Machine for folding collars and cuffs



mme M. HERMANN,

Machine for Folding Collars and Cuffs.

No. 234,571. n Patented N ov- 16, 1880.

. INVENTOR:

WITNESSES l w bl BY Off/ww ATTORNEYS.

" UNTTED STATEs PATENT OFFICE.

MAX HERMANN, OF TROY, NEW YORK.

MACHINE FOR FOLDING COLLARS AND CUFFS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 234,571, dated November 16, 1880.

Application filed May 28, 1880.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MAX HERMANN, of Troy, in the county of Rensselaer and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Machines for Folding Blanks for Collars and Cuffs, ot' which the following is a specification.

My improvements relate to machines used for folding the edges of collar and cutt blanks preparatory to sewing'.

The object ofthe invention is to construct a machine by which the blanks may be folded, ready for being placed together, and attached by a single line of stitching'.

My invention consists in a presser-block tted for reciprocation to and from a xed bed, and a spring-pressure plate tted between the reciprocating block and bed. The pressureblock is shaped to conform to the edge of the blank and also to the edge of a folding-plate, which is to be inserted with the blank beneath the presser-block. The blank and foldingplate are inserted by hand to fold the edge as the block rises, and on the return movement the folded edge will be pressed to shape.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure l is a front elevation, partially in section, of my machine. Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section of the same on line m of Fig. l. Fig. 8 is a plan v view of the presser-block. Fig. 4 is a plan View of the folding-plate as applied to a blank. Fig. 5 represents the folded blanks as placed together for sewing. Figs. 6, 7, and 8 are views illustrating the blank in different stages of the work.

Similar letters of reference indicate correspending parts.

A is the frame of the machine, formed with the bed c and fitted with the shaft Z), that carries a pulley for a belt from suitable power. c is a bar, formed with pins c at its ends, and fitted at the top of the machine in standards d, that rise from the ends of the bed c. rIhe pins c project through vertical slots in standards d, and to the pins are connected the rods c from eccentrics fon shaft b, so that by revolution of shaft b the bar c will be reciprocated. The bar c thus forms a reciprocating head, having a movement to and from the bed a.

B is the presser-block, formed with end lugs,

(No model.)

g, and placed beneath the head c, with the lugs g projecting through the slotted standards d to retain the block in place and permit vertical movement of the same. This block B is formed of metal, and hollow, with an opening at one side, tted with a coupling for connection ot' a steam-pipe-to admit steam for heating the block. The under side of the block is fiat, and the front side is concave lengthwise or curved to the shape ofthe edge ofthe collar-blank.

Between the block B and head c is fitted a curved spring-bar, @through which the pressure of head c is exerted to force the block downward, and which spring compensates for variations in thickness of the blanks. The lugs g ot' block B extend into the slotted ends ofthe rods e, so that the block will be raised by the rods. I have also shown rods h, extending from the under side of block B down through apertures in bed c and through Han ges h', that project from the side ot' frame A and serve as guides for the rods. Upon the rods h, between the guides h and xed collars on the rods, are spiral springs t', which tend to raise the block B.

It is evident that the springs t' might be dispensed with, or used alone for raising the block, instead of connecting the blocks to the reciprocating rods, and in case of a foot-power machine I prefer to use the springs alone. The block may also be xed and the bed reciprocated.

O is the pressure-plate, fitted beneath block B, above bed c, and m m are springs between the plate and bed, acting to throw the plate upward. The plate C conforms at its front edge to the shape of block B, and projects a short distance in front of the block to form a ledge, or it may project at both sides if the machine is constructed for pressing two blanks at once.

rIhe foldingplate,which I use in connection with the machine, is shown at 7c, Fig. 4, and is simply a plate of metal cut to the shape of the collar-blank, but smaller, so that when laid upon the blank, as shownY in said figure, the edges of the blank project the distance required for folding.

The operation is as follows: The shaft b being set in motion by connection to power, and

IOO

the hollow block B connected with steampipes, the operator, standing in front of the machine, places the plate 7c upon a collar-blank and lining, as shown in Figs. 4 and 6, and holds them by a thumb and tin ger at the ends. Then, by placing the edge of the blank with the plate against the face of block B, by a downward movement ot' the hand, the edge of the blank is bent upward and gathered, as shown in Fig. 7. Then, as the block B rises, the edges ofthe plate and blank are slipped between the block B and plate C, which completes the folding, and on the downward movement of block B the folded edge is pressed. The plate and blank may then be removed and the plate placed on another blank. The projecting edge of the pressure-plate C forms a ledge which arrests the. 'folding plate and blank, and serves to hold them with the edge ot' the blank raised, as in Fig. 7, until the block has risen, and the tension of the springs m is sulciently released to allow insertion of the blank beneath the block. The pressureplate thus serves to hold the folded edge until the required pressure is given upon the table d at the completion of the downward movement.

After the blanks are folded as described they are to be placed together, as shown in Fig. 5, for sewing down the folded edges.

If desired, the block B may be formed with a side extension, as at g', Fig. 3, of a form for pressing the end of the collar. The edge will be pressed by giving a side movement to the blank and plate k after the front ed geis pressed, so that at the next descent of the block the end will be pressed. This will save handling of the blanks twice.

Havn g thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. In machines for folding blanks for collars and cuis, a reciprocating presserblock, B, spring-pressure plate C, and fixed bed, combined for operation, substantially as shown and described.

2. In machines for folding blanks for collars and cuffs, in combination with the fixed bed, the presser-block B, ttted for reciprocation to and from the bed, and the presser-plate C, placed between the block and bed, and provided with springs for forcing it toward the presser -block, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. rIhe hollow presser-block B, having its front face curved to the shape of the blank, combined with the reciprocating head c, sprin gplate (l, and fixed bed a, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

MAX HERMANN. iVitnesses GEO. D. WALKER, C. SEDGWIGK. 

